Patents Assigned to AutoMARK Technical Systems, LLC
  • Patent number: 7344071
    Abstract: A voting system for storing voter input data on a voter selection card, which is capable of storing data for a plurality of candidates, and the system, subsequently, prints a ballot marked in accordance with data on the voter selection card. A voter-assist terminal receives a blank voter selection card, and then presents candidate selection options to the voter visually by means of an LCD touch screen menu and aurally by means of a synthesized speech menu. Candidate selections entered by means of the touch screen menu or by means of the audio menu are stored on the voter selection card, and the voter selection card is returned to the voter to take to a reader terminal. The reader terminal sends the stored data on the voter selection card to an attached printer which prints a marked ballot corresponding to the voter's selections. The ballot is inserted in a ballot scanning device, wherein the ballot is tallied and deposited in a locked ballot box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Automark Technical Systems LLC
    Inventors: Eugene M. Cummings, Gerald D. Hosier
  • Patent number: 7314172
    Abstract: A terminal for marking a paper ballot which lists a plurality of candidates and which includes a marking space for each candidate which can be either hand-marked by a voter, or machine-marked by the terminal. The terminal scans the ballot to determine the ballot format, and then presents candidate selection options to the voter. Candidate selections are entered through a touch screen menu or through an audio menu and are accurately marked on the front and back sides of the ballot in marking spaces corresponding to the selected candidates. A skew correction mechanism ensures accurate marking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Automark Technical Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph M. Vanek, Eugene M. Cummings
  • Patent number: 7314171
    Abstract: A terminal for marking a paper ballot which lists a plurality of candidates and which includes a marking space for each candidate which can be either hand-marked by a voter, or machine-marked by the terminal. The terminal scans the ballot to determine the ballot format, and then presents candidate selection options to the voter. Candidate selections are entered through a touch screen menu or through an audio menu and are precisely marked on the front and back sides of the ballot in marking spaces corresponding to the selected candidates by conducting an alignment scan prior to printing that collects data to compensate for ballot rotation angles due to skewing. The ballot is returned to the voter in a form which enables the voter to visually confirm that his or her selections have been marked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Automark Technical Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Eugene M. Cummings
  • Patent number: 7222787
    Abstract: A system and apparatus for marking a pre-printed paper ballot which can be either hand-marked by a voter, or machine-marked by the apparatus. If the ballot is to be machine marked, the ballot is inserted into the marking apparatus and candidate selections are presented to the voter on a touchscreen. Candidate selections entered on the touchscreen are marked on both the top and bottom sides of the ballot utilizing a single print head to mark spaces corresponding to the selected candidates, and the ballot is returned to the voter in a form which enables the voter to visually confirm that his selections have been marked. The ballot, whether hand-marked or machine-marked, is inserted in a ballot scanning device, wherein it is tallied and deposited in a ballot box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: AutoMARK Technical Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Eugene M. Cummings
  • Patent number: 7163147
    Abstract: A system and apparatus for marking a pre-printed paper ballot which can be either hand-marked by a voter, or machine-marked by the apparatus. If the ballot is to be machine marked, the ballot is inserted into the marking apparatus and candidate selections are presented to the voter on a touchscreen. Candidate selections entered on the touchscreen are marked on both the top and bottom sides of the ballot utilizing a dual print head to mark spaces corresponding to the selected candidates, and the ballot is returned to the voter in a form which enables the voter to visually confirm that his selections have been marked. The ballot, whether hand-marked or machine-marked, is inserted in a ballot scanning device, wherein it is tallied and deposited in a ballot box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Automark Technical Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Eugene M. Cummings
  • Patent number: 7100828
    Abstract: A voting system utilizing a paper ballot listing a plurality of candidates which includes a marking space for each candidate which can be either hand-marked by a voter, or machine-marked in an electronic voting station. The voting station includes a ballot marking device and a touch-screen voting terminal. If the ballot is to be machine marked, the ballot is inserted into the marking device and candidate selections are presented to the voter on the touch-screen. Candidate Selections entered on the touch-screen are marked on the ballot by the marking device in marking spaces corresponding to the selected candidates, and the ballot is returned to the voter in a form which enables the voter to visually confirm that his selections have been marked. The ballot, whether hand-marked or machine-marked, is inserted in a ballot scanning device, wherein it is tallied and deposited in a ballot box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: AutoMARK Technical Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Eugene M. Cummings
  • Patent number: 7080779
    Abstract: A terminal for marking a paper ballot which lists a plurality of candidates and which includes a marking space for each candidate which can be either hand-marked by a voter, or machine-marked by the terminal. The terminal scans the ballot to determine the ballot format, and then presents candidate selection options to the voter visually utilizing an LCD touch screen and aurally utilizing a synthesized speech menu. Candidate selections entered utilizing the touch screen menu or utilizing the audio menu are marked on the front and back sides of the ballot in marking spaces corresponding to the selected candidates, and the ballot is returned to the voter in a form which enables the voter to visually confirm that his or her selections have been marked. The ballot, whether hand-marked or machine-marked, is inserted in a ballot scanning device, wherein the ballot is tallied and deposited in a ballot box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: AutoMARK Technical Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Eugene M. Cummings